The death of One Direction legend Liam Payne shocked the world after he fell from a balcony at a hotel in Argentina, but there are still so many questions surrounding his passing
Liam Payne passed away eight weeks ago but his death still has so many unanswered questions surrounding it.
The One Direction star, 31, died on October 16 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina – but to many fans across the globe, things just aren’t adding up.
Liam had been in Argentina to support his 1D band member Niall Horan in concert as he stayed at the CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires alongside his girlfriend Kate Cassidy. However, the night of his death, he was left to his own devices by his loved ones after his partner had flown home.
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As the police inquiry continues, we take a deep dive into some of the queries that are still popping up in fans’ minds after they have been left heartbroken by the tragedy.
Why was Liam left alone?
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Four days before his death, on October 12, US model Kate, 25, flew home to Miami without him. She said on TikTok: “I was so ready to leave. Honestly, love South America but I hate staying in one place for too long.”
However, a source told the Mail that her return home had been prompted by the singer’s relapse into drug-taking.
Fans have also turned to his friend for failing to save Payne from himself, an Argentinian-American called Rogelio “Roger” Nores, 35, who he had been photographed with in Buenos Aires.
The pair were spotted together in the hotel just hours before his death, but Nores left the establishment 40 minutes before his tragic fall, after reportedly apologising to hotel staff for Liam’s erratic behaviour.
Prosecutors have accused Nores of “abandonment of a person before death”, and he still remains a person of interest in the investigation. He has denied being to blame.
Liam reportedly “convulsed” in the hotel lobby earlier that day, but hotel employees did not call an ambulance immediately. Chief receptionist Esteban Grassi helped escort Liam back to his room but left him beside the balcony.
Though he did call 911 minutes after taking him to his room and told the operator: “I don’t know whether his life may be in danger, the guest’s life. He is in a room with a balcony and, well, we’re a little afraid that he might do something.”
The hotel has been accused of misjudgment not seeking immediate medical assistance. The hotel has also not responded to any requests for comment.
What happened to Liam’s belongings?
Two days after Payne’s death on October 18, a hotel employee stumbled across a brown leather bag on the second-floor balcony, which was located underneath the late star’s room.
A bottle of Jack Daniel’s whisky and a number of unidentified pills were found inside with a note which read “For Liam”.
There are some theories that the singer tossed it to the balcony beneath him before attempting to scale down the building and recover it. It is unclear who gave the bag to him and why, but it suggests it was someone with access to the hotel.
Liam’s gold Rolex was also never recovered from the scene. There was no sign of the £30,000 timepiece which he had been photographed wearing earlier that day.
Some believe he could have paid two escorts with the watch as they had visited his room earlier that day. Argentine Press named the two women as Aldana Serrano, 31, and Lucila Goitea, 27.
They arrived at the hotel at 11.30am and left shortly before 4pm, staying longer than planned due to an alleged dispute over payment, according to reports.
The women gave sworn statements to the authorities that they did not take the watch and even had their homes searched – however, it is still a mystery as to where it went.
One of the last snaps of the star alive was taken at 4.26pm, which was just 30 minutes before the fall that ended his life. Liam could be seen in the hotel lobby with his laptop but appeared to fly into a fit of rage after receiving an email.
One witness told the Mail that Payne “suddenly took the computer, shouted ‘f**k this s**t mate!” and smashed the computer on the ground.
What actually happened at the hotel?
Liam’s energy appeared to drastically change in the lead-up to his death, as witnesses claimed he was in good spirits shortly after 4pm and was conversing with fans about his life in Florida. Minutes later, his mood and he told witnesses: “I used to be in a boy band – that’s why I am so f***ed up.”
Liam was found with his black cap, which he often wore in public to avoid being recognised by fans, alongside a small bag. He was not wearing either item when he was taken up to his room which fans claim could be a sign he was trying to flee from the hotel.
In the moments before his death, it appears that the star had got dressed to go out. This would not be the first time he had tried to scale a building as he had a history of climbing from hotel balconies which dates back to his 1D days to avoid management.
A month before his death, he also climbed from a balcony in Florida to bypass his bodyguard who had been trying to prevent Liam from heading out to score drugs.
There also comes the question of why Liam was at CasaSur Palermo, as he had been staying at a more secure hotel days earlier.
What was Liam doing before his death?
Liam’s body was found to contain “traces of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant” according to the official toxicology report. But that doesn’t appear to answer everything.
A witness at the scene saw him “convulsing” just 10 minutes before his death and the autopsy discovered that he made no attempt to break his fall which concluded he was therefore likely unconscious at the time of the incident.
Previous reports suggested Payne could have ingested so-called “pink cocaine” – which is a psychoactive party drug which is often made up of ketamine, methamphetamine, MDMA and heroin.
There are also two other “persons of interest” in the investigation, Braian Nahuel Paiz and Ezequiel David Pereyra. Liam had met Paiz, a 24-year-old waiter, at the Cabana Las Lilas restaurant.
Paiz had been accused of supplying the singer with drugs but he denied this in an interview on November 9. He claimed the pair “took drugs together” before adding: “I never took drugs to him or accepted any money”. The aspiring model spent two separate evenings with Liam who had offered him items of clothing as mementoes of their friendship.
Leaked CCTV footage from the hotel basement showed a man – which is believed to be CasaSur employee Pereyra – shaking hands and exchanging words with Liam. Not a lot is known about Pereyra who has avoided all media attempts to contact him so far.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
